Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Sarah Gerstenzang
As adoptive and foster parents, we believe our child welfare system needs repair Original
Back in 2000, we accepted a five-week-old baby girl into our lives as foster parents. We were hoping to support her family until she could return to them. Seven months later, we got a call from the child welfare agency — they wanted to reassign her following the unexplained move of her sister from one foster family to another. When the case worker asked if we wanted to become adoptive parents instead, we leapt at the chance.
Commentary: Charging parents for foster care hurts New York families
Parents whose children are in foster care face an uphill battle as they work to bring their children home — practically, emotionally and financially. That could change for New York families if legislators act now. For the past 40 years, federal law has encouraged child welfare and child support enforcement agencies to work together to recover the cost of foster care from children’s parents. Parents whose children are placed in foster care are blindsided by these bills.
Adoptive Families
But here’s the thing—as much as we can try to protect him and teach him to protect himself, there may come a time when your child will be involved. As the parents of the white friend of my black son, I need you to be talking to your child about racism. Join or renew now for exclusive access to this article, the full searchable Adoptive Families Adoption Parenting Library, and more. Already a member? Log in below. [wppb-login] Need help? CLICK HERE
Anonymous reporting takes toll on foster parents, youth
Each year, New York State receives thousands of reports of suspected child abuse from callers who do not provide their names or contact information. Each year, child protective services launch investigations of families — many of whom are families of color — in response to these anonymous reports. And each year, as a result of these anonymous reports, thousands of families’ lives are subjected to government scrutiny with the frightening prospect that they could lose custody of their children.
A 20-Year Fostering Reflection From One Foster and Adoptive Mom
A foster and adoptive mom shares what she’s learned since first becoming a foster parent 20 years ago Sarah Gerstenzang (right( with her daughter Cecilia, who was adopted from foster care. Photo courtesy of Sarah Gerstenzang In 2000, we became foster parents with the arrival of a 5-week-old baby girl whom we adopted nearly three years later.
Commentary: New York must overhaul foster care reimbursement
In an ideal world, foster care would not exist. All children would be born to parents ready to support and nurture them through the highs and lows of childhood. And yet, we know this is not true. Foster care is as essential as firefighters and police — all are public systems that underpin a civil society. Children who have suffered from abuse or neglect and can't safely live with their parents need to be cared for temporarily.
How to Parent in a Mixed Race Family
Like all mixed race families in America, we face stereotyping as a matter of course. These six lessions have helped enrich my family. Join or renew now for exclusive access to this article, the full searchable Adoptive Families Adoption Parenting Library, and more. Already a member? Log in below. Need help? CLICK HERE
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Sarah
Contact Sarah, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack